Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has three days to appeal the six-game suspension issued to him by the NFL on Friday, the first step — if recent history is any indication — in a process that could prevent the all-pro from serving the ban for violating the league's personal conduct policy at the start of the 2017 season as planned.

Assuming Elliott appeals — his representatives indicated he would Friday afternoon — a hearing with a league-appointed arbitrator, likely former NFL executive Harold Henderson, could take place as soon as Aug. 22.

“We are reviewing the decision and have been in touch with Ezekiel and his representatives to consider all options,” the NFL Players Association said in a statement.

Elliott’s attorneys said they would present “a slew of additional, credible and controverting evidence” to fight the penalty.

All appeal decisions are supposed to be "final and binding," but Elliott has legal options.

"Like Tom Brady, Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice, the next choice if Elliott doesn't prevail is to seek judicial review," David S. Weinstein, a former assistant U.S. attorney and current partner at the firm Clarke Silverglate, told USA TODAY Sports.

"Elliott's lawyers would like to get the case filed in Dallas federal court, but they'd be hard pressed since the league is based in New York."

Weinstein said Elliott's legal team could file for preliminary injunction if the appeal is upheld and would likely cite irreparable harm, including the six lost paychecks and potential bonus money. The filing would spell out how the NFL erred with its decision since Commissioner Roger Goodell has the authority and broad discretion to suspend players under the collective bargaining agreement, a power the federal courts have upheld.

Goodell suspended Brady for four games in May 2015 for allegedly conspiring to underinflate footballs in the 2014 AFC Championship Game. After the ban was upheld on appeal, Brady and NFLPA lawyers sought an injunction and then won a ruling on the U.S. District Court level that allowed Brady to play the entire 2015 season. An appeals court, however, overturned the ruling in April 2016, and Brady sat out the first four games of the 2016 season.

Peterson was suspended over allegations of child abuse in 2014 and went to court after Henderson denied his appeal. A federal judge in Minnesota overturned Henderson’s decision, and Peterson was reinstated by the NFL before the federal appeals process played out.

Rice, the former Baltimore Ravens running back whose assault of his fiancee (now wife) inside an Atlantic City elevator initiated the NFL's change to its personal conduct policy, also found success on the federal court level. A federal judge ruled in 2014 that Rice’s indefinite suspension was unwarranted because he did not lie to the league when interviewed and had been previously suspended two games for the incident.

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 27: Cornerback Jimmy Smith #22 of the Baltimore Ravens stands on the field during warms up prior to the game against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium on November 27, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 700070771 ORIG FILE ID: 880611778
Todd Olszewski, Getty Images